Sugar June 12, 2010

Following the resounding success of RAGTIME, Drury Lane Theatre continues their celebration of ‘the year of the Director’ with Jim Corti’s dazzling production of the musical comedy SUGAR which previews at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, on June 3, opens June 12 at 8:30 p.m. and runs through August 1. Adapted from the Oscar winning 1959 Billy Wilder gem “Some Like It Hot” starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, SUGAR is a sexy Prohibition-era musical farce that romps from Chicago to Miami, with a slew of chaotic mishaps. Jim Corti, who directed and choreographed last season’s sensational production of CABARET and won the Jeff Award for Best Director for Drury Lane’s SWEET CHARITY, brings a uniquely cinematic approach to this rarely revived forgotten beauty. Rod Thomas (directly from the Las Vegas production of THE LION KING) and Jennifer Knox (national tour of CATS) return to Chicago to headline the all-star cast.

On the eve of the Great Depression in Chicago, the St. Valentine's Day massacre plays out its bloody aftermath in a Clark Street garage accidentally witnessed by Joe (Rod Thomas) and Jerry (Alan Schmuckler), two down on their luck musicians. After being discovered by Capone's hit men, their only ticket out of town is to disguise themselves as females and join Sue (Tammy Mader), the leader of Sweet Sue And Her Society Syncopaters, an all-female band headed for Miami. The chase is on but the boys can't help chasing a skirt themselves when they fall for the band’s lead singer, a blonde bombshell named Sugar (Jennifer Knox.) At risk of being caught by The Mob, Joe and Jerry pursue Sugar while keeping their real identities a secret. More than anything, Sugar wants to marry a millionaire, prompting Joe to disguise himself as the man of her dreams. Meanwhile, wealthy and elderly Osgood Fielding Jr. (Joe Lauck) is pursuing Daphne, unaware she really is Jerry in drag.

SUGAR first opened at the Majestic Theater in 1972 and ran for 505 performances, earning four Tony Award nominations. The rarely seen musical comedy features an exhilarating score by composer Jule Styne and lyricist Bob Merrill (GYPSY, FUNNY GIRL) with a book by Peter Stone. Both outrageous and touching, SUGAR features memorable musical numbers including Penniless Bums, The Beauty That Drives Men Mad, We Could Be Close, Doin' It for Sugar, What Do You Give (To a Man Who Has Everything?), Beautiful Through and Through and November Song.

The all-star cast of SUGAR also includes Norm Boucher as “Spats Palazzo,” Christopher Damiano as “Dude,” Stef Tovar as “Bienstock”, and ensemble members Jason Bayle, Steve Calzaretta, Brandon Dahlquist, Trisha Ditsworth, Lauren Fijol, Michael Glazer, Tiffany Herlien, Kelli Morgan, Danielle Plisz, Andrea Prestinario, Megan Simmons, Brandon Springman, Richard Strimer, William Travis Taylor and Andrew Weir.

Joining Director and Choreographer Jim Corti will be Musical Director Ben Johnson. Set Design is by Brian Sidney Bembridge, Costume Design by Melissa Torchia with Costume Manager Erika Senase, Lighting Design is by Jesse Klug, Sound Design is by Cecil Averett and Properties Design is by Greg Isaac.

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($31), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($31) and 8 p.m. ($38), Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ($45), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($45) and 8:30 p.m. ($45) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($45) and 6 p.m. ($40). Lunch and dinner theater packages range from $45.75 to $68 depending on the day of the week. Student tickets start as low as $19 and Senior Citizen tickets start as low as $27 for matinees and $41.75 for a matinee luncheon package. For reservations, phone (630) 530-0111 or call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000. You may also visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.